NCAA Lacrosse Championship 2026 Betting Preview: Odds, Predictions, & Picks

Maryland Terrapins (+550)

Maryland returns to the field eyeing redemption after faltering in the national championship last season. They enter as the clear favorites to win the Big Ten Championship and have the edge in the national title betting markets.

The Terrapins also rank first in the USA Lacrosse Preseason Top 20. Last year, Maryland went 14-4 and second in total team defense. Their defense was suffocating and didn’t allow opponents to get comfortable. Setting up and finding lanes against Maryland’s defense can prove to be problematic.

They finished second in the nation, yielding an average of 8.11 goals per game. Only Army conceded fewer goals, though their schedule wasn’t as tough as the Terrapins in the Big Ten. Head coach John Tillman’s system will once again feature a physical unit that closes passing lanes and doesn’t give up many inches.

Will. Schaller. https://t.co/sSxNyVo0cO pic.twitter.com/UHZke8y0Lh

— Maryland Men's Lacrosse (@TerpsMLax) March 1, 2025

The Terrapins welcome back a host of impact players from the 2025 team, none bigger than Will Schaller, the best lockdown defender in the nation. He is one of the few players in the NCAA who can shut down a high-caliber playmaker like Syracuse’s Joey Spallina, holding him to zero goals in the NCAA Tournament last season.

Leading goalscorer and points leader Eric Spanos is also back for the Terrapins. Along with senior Braden Erksa, Maryland returns two of its top three forwards from the 2025 team. Losing Logan McNally hurts, but they loaded up in the transfer portal.

All things considered, Maryland will be a major threat, and another trip to the national title game could be in the cards.

Syracuse Orange (+700)

Syracuse are expected to be back in the mix but will need to find a way past Maryland. The Orange were outplayed in a 14-8 semifinal loss, as Spallina never looked comfortable and was neutralized by the Terrapins’ lockdown defense. It was still a quality season, which included an ACC Championship.

The All-American attacker led Syracuse with 90 points and was vital both as a finisher and a creator. Spallina tallied 35 goals and 55 assists in a superb campaign. The senior from Mount Sinai is one of the leading candidates for the Tewaaraton Award, given to the best men’s college lacrosse player.

Is anyone stopping him?

After leading @CuseMLAX back to the final four and with hopes of delivering the Orange's first NCAA title since 2009, Tewaaraton favorite Joey Spallina is our Preseason Player of the Year. pic.twitter.com/zZZqjlAkcO

— USA Lacrosse Magazine (@USALMag) January 22, 2026

However, Spallina will have to do it without Owen Hiltz. Hiltz played a major role in Syracuse’s success offensively last season. He led Syracuse with 46 goals and was the team captain for the Orange. Hiltz’s impact went beyond the field, as he was a vocal leader in the locker room as well.

Syracuse’s defense could have been stronger in 2025, and I see no indications they’ll improve drastically. They finished 29th in the NCAA, with 10.37 goals against per game. I want to see more intensity from Gary Gait’s group on the defensive end this year. If not, they are going to face a similar fate with a loss in the playoffs.

North Carolina Tar Heels (+750)

Chapel Hill is excited about what its lacrosse program has to offer in 2026. The North Carolina Tar Heels have the third-best odds to win the NCAA Men’s Lacrosse National Championship and could surprise a few pundits.

In 2025, North Carolina put together a solid 10-5 season and reached the ACC Men’s Lacrosse Tournament. The Tar Heels fell 14-7 in the first game and were then bounced by Richmond in the opening round of the NCAA Tournament. It was a good year overall, but the ending didn’t go as planned.

There were still plenty of bright spots, including a 14-12 win over Syracuse to close the regular season. However, the Tar Heels had a major letdown after that victory and now need to approach 2026 as if they’re one of the favorites. Offensive spark plug Dominic Pietramala returns for his junior season after a standout sophomore campaign.

Pietramala led North Carolina with 48 goals last season. Paired with Owen Duffy, who is also entering his junior year, the Tar Heels will be a tough out. While Pietramala recorded only three assists, Duffy was the engine who routinely set him up, finishing with 27 assists to lead the UNC attack.

SPIN IT TO WIN IT 🔥

Dominic Pietramala scores off the spin and finishes with six goals and one assist, leading @UNCMensLacrosse over Syracuse.#NCAAMLAX x 🎥 ACCN pic.twitter.com/qEoodwa4Hw

— NCAA Lacrosse (@NCAALAX) April 27, 2025

Defensively, North Carolina was among the best teams in the country. The Tar Heels allowed just 9.33 goals per game, ranking 12th nationally. With the Pietramala–Duffy combo on offense and a top-tier defense, North Carolina should not be overlooked in 2026.

The key could be Duffy’s health, which has been a concern throughout his career. If he is in top form by the postseason this spring, the Tar Heels are a serious contender.